Electrical outlet box

ABSTRACT

An electrical outlet box having wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermost periphery of the box wall structure, the recessed areas housing pawl mounting devices and electrical power cable entry ports. The cable entry ports have self-opening and/or self-clamping closure panels extending angularly inwardly from the rim of the port which are also self-centering and self-adjusting for different cable sizes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser.No. 879,767, filed Feb. 21, 1978, also assigned to the assignee of thisapplication, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electrical outlet boxes andthe like and relates more particularly to certain new and usefulimprovements in the configuration of such boxes, in provisions formounting such boxes in a suitable wall opening, in the location andorientation of the cable entry ports for the admission of electricalpower cable into the outlet box, and in combinations of the foregoingfeatures.

It will be understood that although the present invention is describedwith particular reference to electrical outlet boxes which are adaptedto house the termination (i.e., electrical connection) between anelectrical power cable and an electrical fixture such as an electricaloutlet receptacle or an electrical switch, the present invention can beadapted, where desired, for use in other housing for electricaldistribution appliances, such as electrical junction boxes, flush typeboxes, etc. Accordingly, when used herein, the term "electrical outletbox" is intended to embrace such additional structures.

The usual electrical outlet box is constructed in a generally box-likeconfiguration with a generally continuous sidewall member depending froma back (or bottom) wall, and formed with one or more cable entry ports(hereinafter sometimes referred to as "knockout windows") in the sidewall member, which are adapted to permit access to the interior of thebox for electrical power cables. One or more electrical power cables areinserted into the box, each through a cable port opening, for connectionto (or termination with) the electrical fixture to be mounted in thebox. Moreover, in order to prevent debris from entering the box throughcable ports that are not utilized, and to minimize fire spread in theevent that the electrical appliance housed in the box malfunctions, thetypical cable entry ports in electrical outlet boxes are substantiallyor completely closed by knockout panels which are removably attached tothe box wall structure across each port opening.

It will also be understood that although the present invention isdescribed with respect to a rectangularly-shaped electrical outlet box,the invention is equally applicable to other conventionally shapedboxes, including round boxes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore, it has been conventional in electrical outlet boxes for theoutermost periphery of the box wall structure to be comprised ofsubstantially straight walls or, in the case of a round box, for thewall structure to be located at a substantially constant radial distancefrom the center of the box. These conventional structures aredisadvantageous in certain usages since they cause the electrical powercable and certain box mounting devices to protrude laterally from theoutermost periphery of the wall structure, thereby obstructing entry andmounting of the box in a wall opening.

3. Objects of the Invention

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved electrical outlet box.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box which is formed in a novel and improvedconfiguration.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box which facilitates entry of the electrical powercable through the cable entry ports.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box which facilitates connection of the electricalpower cable to an electrical fixture mounted to the box and alsofacilitates subsequent mounting of the outlet box within the wallopening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box in which each end wall includes portions which areoffset from one another so as to create recessed areas along theoutermost periphery of the outlet box wall structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box configuration in which adjacent cable entry portsare laterally offset from one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box having one or more cable entry ports located in awall section which is recessed inwardly from the periphery of the boxwall structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box having one or more cable entry ports located in awall section which is recessed inwardly from the periphery of the boxwall structure, in which the cable entry ports have window closurepanels which are secured adjacent the rim of the port and extendangularly inwardly therefrom towards each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical outlet box having one or more cable entry ports located in awall section which is recessed inwardly from the periphery of the boxwall structure, in which the cable entry ports have window closurepanels which are secured adjacent the rim of the port and extendangularly inwardly therefrom towards each other, the closure panelsbeing tapered along their inwardly extending length and joined at theirpoint of convergence by a frangible web which may be readily pierced bythe electrical power cable without the aid of a separate tool, thetapered closure panels thereafter clamping the cable against movement ina direction out of the box.

Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein andin part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with theinvention, the same being realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the electrical outlet box configuration of thepresent invention has wall portions which are laterally offset from oneanother so as to create wall areas recessed inwardly from the outermostperiphery of the box wall structure. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, each end wall of the box islaterally offset on either side of the electrical fixture mounting post,creating diagonally opposed inwardly recessed areas in the outermostperiphery of the box wall structure.

As preferably embodied, one or more cable entry ports for the passage ofelectrical power cable into the outlet box are housed in a portion ofthe box wall structure which is recessed inwardly from the outermostperiphery of the box wall.

Also as preferably embodied in the electrical outlet box of the presentinvention, the cable entry ports include a pair of window closure panelswhich are formed integral with the end wall at the rim of the port alongopposed sides thereof and extend angularly inwardly therefrom. The freeends of the panels may terminate at points which are closely adjacentbut spaced apart from one another or, alternatively, may be joinedtogether at their inner ends by a frangible web which preferably isreadily pierceable by manually forcing the end of the electrical powercable against the web.

It will be apparent from the foregoing general description that theobjects of the invention specifically enumerated herein are accomplishedby the invention as here embodied.

Thus, the novel configuration of the electrical outlet box of thisinvention, wherein portions of the box wall structure are recessed fromthe outermost periphery of the box walls and both cable entry ports andthe pawl mounting device are located in recessed wall regions,facilitates cable entry and mounting of the box within the wall opening.Recessing the cable entry ports permits the electrician to locate theportion of the electrical power cable extending outwardly from the porteither closely adjacent, or entirely within the confines of theoutermost periphery of the box walls, thus facilitating insertion of thewired box into the wall opening. The provision of both recessed cableentry ports and ports having diagonally inwardly inclined closure panelsserves to position the cable even further inward of the outermostperiphery of the box walls, facilitating even further the insertion ofthe wired box into the wall opening.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an electrical outlet box constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the outlet box of FIG. 1, the viewillustrating the box positioned within a wall opening and furtherillustrating a preferred embodiment of the pawl mounting means of theinvention with the pawl arm in its retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the outlet box of FIG.1, illustrating the pawl arm in its extended position engaging the backsurface of the wall structure in which the outlet box is mounted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section,taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, the view illustrating the outlet boxclamped to the wall structure;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in bottomplan, of the cable entry port structure of the outlet box of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative embodiment of acable entry port constructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now more particularly to the embodiments of the inventionshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like parts, there is illustrated an electrical outlet box,indicated generally by reference numeral 1, mounted in a suitably sizedopening 2 in a wall structure 3.

As here preferably embodied, electrical outlet box 1 is of a generallyrectangular shape and includes a bottom wall 10, a pair of opposed endwalls 11, 12, a pair of opposed side walls 13, 14 extending between theaforesaid end walls, each of the end and side walls terminating in acontinuous front edge 15 lying in a frontal plane which is parallel tothe bottom wall 10 and defines the front opening 16 of the box. Outletbox 1 also includes an opposed pair of conventional mounting postmembers 20 adjacent each of the end walls 11, 12 for securing anelectrical fixture to the box by threaded fasteners, as is well known inthe art. Advantageously, each of posts 20 includes an unthreadedborehole 22 and a mounting clip 23 (see FIG. 2) slidably lockablyreceived in each of the posts adjacent the borehole for quick fasteningof a threaded screw thereto, such as is more fully described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,955,463 and 4,105,862, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with the invention, outlet box 1 is provided with recessedareas in the outermost periphery of the wall structure. To this end, ashere preferably embodied, diagonally opposed sections 11a, 12a of theend walls 11, 12 respectively, are recessed inwardly between one side ofthe electrical fixture mounting post member 20 and the adjoining sidewalls 13, 14, respectively.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, outletbox 1 is approximately 3 inches deep, 23/8 inches wide, 35/8 inches longand approximately 18 cubic inches interior volume. In this embodiment,sections 11a, 12a of outlet box 1 are recessed inwardly approximatelyone-quarter of an inch (1/4") from the outer surface of the adjacent endwall sections 11b, 12b, respectively. While it has been found thatapproximately 1/4" is the preferred depth of recessed sections 11a, 12afor carrying out the invention in an outlet box having the aforesaiddimensions, the invention is not limited to any particular size box ordepth of recess and the foregoing dimensions are given as an example,from which other equivalent dimensions will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art.

Also, as previously mentioned, it will be understood that, although theillustrated rectangular outlet box presently is the preferred embodimentof the invention, the invention is not limited to any particular boxconfiguration, and its application to boxes of other configurations,such as round boxes, will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art.

Advantageously, and as here preferably embodied, recessed areas 11a, 12ahouse cable entry port means for the passage of conventional electricalpower cable, illustrated at 25 in FIGS. 2 and 6, into outlet box 1 forconnection to an electrical fixture (not shown) mounted in the outletbox.

In accordance with the invention, the cable entry port means are adaptedto facilitate entry of the electrical power cable into the outlet box aswell as to facilitate mounting of the wired outlet box in a wallopening.

To this end, as best depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the preferred cableentry port means is comprised of an opening or port 30 in the end walls11, 12 adjacent bottom wall 10 which is preferably formed with a pair ofopposed closure panels 32, 33 extending from the rim of the port openingdiagonally inwardly toward each other and terminating at points whichare closely adjacent but spaced apart from one another a distance whichis preferably less than the narrowest width of conventional electricalpower cable. A frangible web 35 preferably joins the adjacent innermostends of the closure panels. Advantageously, and as preferably embodied,web 35 is adapted to be broken by manually forcing the end of aconventional electrical power cable against the web. Although web 35 isshown extending along the entire length of the convergent ends of panels32, 33, alternatively, and with equally satisfactory results, web 35 mayextend between the convergent ends of panel 32, 33 along only a shortportion of their length, on the order of approximately 1/8-1/4 inch,preferably at the mid-section thereof.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, also by way of examplerather than limitation, the port openings 30 are approximately one-halfinch wide (1/2") and one-half inch long (1/2"). When formed from aninjection moldable thermoplastic resin material, more fully describedhereinafter, the point of convergence of closure panels 32, 33 isapproximately three-eighths inch (3/8") from the inside surface of endwall 12a, frangible web 35 is approximately 0.010" thick, and panels 32,33 taper from a thickness of about 0.030" (approximately 1/32") thick attheir convergent ends to about 0.060" (approximately 1/16") thick attheir bases adjacent the aperture rim.

Also, as preferably embodied, the generally V-shaped space betweenclosure panels 32, 33, which opens in a direction perpendicular to thefrontal plane of the box, is at least substantially closed by a thirdclosure panel 36 extending transversely and closely adjacent to thefrontmost edges of the angled closure panels 32, 33. Advantageously, areinforcing rib or strut 38 is formed to extend between the top of portclosure panel 36 and the inside surface of end walls 11, 12. Also, asbest seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, angled closure panels 32, 33 preferably aretapered, having increased thickness at the base thereof adjacent the rimof the port opening, and include supplementary cable grippingprojections 39 on their opposed facing surfaces.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the cable entry port means ofthe invention as preferably embodied are both self-opening andself-clamping. The port means are self-opening in that no separate toolsuch as a screwdriver or the like is required in order to break thefrangible closure web 35. In the embodiment where the closure panels aretapered, depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the port means are alsoself-clamping since, upon inward movement of the cable into the boxchamber, the angularly inwardly directed closure panels are slightlyspread apart to thereby resistingly bear against the cable and,consequently, a reverse outward force applied to the cable thereaftercauses the inner end portions of the closure panels to be urged by meansof a camming action progressively more tightly against the cable, intoincreasing gripping engagement therewith, thereby effectively clampingthe cable against reverse outward movement.

The cable entry port means of the invention as preferably embodied arealso both self-centering and self-adjusting for different sizes ofelectrical power cables passing into said box chamber. Thus, theprovision of inwardly angled closure panels serves to guide theelectrical power cable into the box at a predetermined, consistentlocation, which is at the apex of the converging panels, irrespective ofthe cable size. Also, the preferred lengths and thicknesses of theclosure panels, particularly when formed from a moldable plasticmaterial, as is more fully described hereinafter, provide the panelswith sufficient flexibility and resiliency so that they deflectlaterally away from the point of convergence, thereby permitting thepanels to adjust to the different cable sizes, and yet resistingly bearagainst the cable in their deflected condition. By recessing the base ofthe closure panels away from the aperture rim, as illustrated in FIG. 5,cables having thicknesses up to a thickness equal to the width of theentry aperture can be accommodated with satisfactory results.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 6, thecable entry port closure panels extend angularly inwardly from the rimof the port opening and are self-opening, as well as self-centering andself-adjusting, but provide only slight clamping action against theelectrical power cable. As alternatively embodied, the opposed closurepanels 40, 41 are of a uniform thickness throughout which is relativelythin, on the order of about 0.030" (approximately 1/32") thick, and thefrangible connecting web 35 is on the order of about 0.010" thick, wheninjection molded from a thermoplastic resin material, more fullydescribed hereinafter. In this embodiment, the inwardly convergingclosure panels 40, 41 are advantageous in use since, in a manner similarto closure panels 32, 33, they flex only a distance sufficient to permitthe cable to pass through the port, thereby maintaining a substantiallyclosed opening even in use. In addition, as depicted in FIG. 2, both ofthe aforesaid embodiments of the cable entry port means of the inventionfacilitate mounting of the box in a wall opening, since the cable entersthe box partially through the generally V-shaped opening provided in thebottom wall of the box at the cable entry ports. As depicted in FIG. 2,particularly where the cable entry port is formed in the recessed wallsections 11a, 12a, the aforesaid structure enables the electrical powercable to be easily extended from the box with no part thereof protrudinglaterally beyond the outermost periphery of the box wall structure.

The foregoing embodiments of the cable entry port means of the presentinvention are described in greater detail in copending application Ser.No. 879,767, filed Feb. 21, 1978, also assigned to the assignee of thisapplication. The disclosure of application Ser. No. 879,767 is herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference, and reference may be made tothat application for a discussion of the further advantages of thesestructures.

Although the cable entry port structures illustrated here and inapplication Ser. No. 879,767 show the base of the closure panelsattached to the box wall structure along the longitudinal rim portionsof the port opening which extend in a direction from the front to theback of the box, it will be understood that the principles underlyingthe invention are not limited to this particular orientation, but areequally applicable to the attachment of the closure panels along the topand bottom rim portions of the port opening, in which case the thirdclosure panel extends in a plane parallel to the opposed side walls andadjacent the lateral converging side edges of the opposed closure panelsso as to cover the generally V-shaped space therebetween opening in adirection perpendicular to the opposed side walls of the box. Thisalternative configuration is illustrated in copending application Ser.No. 22,993, filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the assignee ofthis application, the disclosure of which is hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Also, while the cable entry ports illustrated here and in applicationSer. No. 879,767 are rectangular in shape and include a pair of opposedconverging closure panels, it will be understood that the invention isequally applicable to other port entry configurations, such as anaperture having a circular shape, and to the provision of either asingle or a plurality of closure panels extending angularly inwardlyfrom the rim of the port opening such, e.g., as is shown in theaforesaid copending application Ser. No. 22,993.

As here preferably embodied, recesses 11a, 12a also house means formounting outlet box 1 to the wall structure surrounding an openingsuitably sized to receive an outlet box therethrough. To this end,outlet box 1 includes two or more flanges 45 on the front edge of thebox wall structure extending perpendicular to the box walls laterallyoutwardly beyond the outermost periphery thereof, and pawl mountingmeans 50 adapted to clamp the edge of the wall structure 3 between boxflanges 45 and pawl clamping flange 55, more fully described immediatelyhereafter.

Pawl mounting means 50 includes a pawl clamping arm 51 adapted to berotated between retracted and extended positions and to travel in alinear direction in the extended position into and out of clampingengagement with the back side of wall 3. Pawl mounting means 50 also isadapted to restrain rotational movement of the pawl clamping arm 51 inboth clockwise and counterclockwise directions over at least a portionof the linear travel of the pawl arm by means of a single stop flange onthe outlet box wall.

To this end, pawl arm 51 includes a generally semicylindrical hubportion 52 into which a threaded mounting screw 53 is fastened. Hub 52may be provided with internal threads mating the threads of screw 53 or,alternatively, screw 53 may be a thread-cutting screw which cuts threadsinto hub 52 upon being threadably fastened thereto. Planar clamping arm51 extends tangentially of hub 52, terminating on one side of the hub ina right-angled clamping flange 55 and terminating on the other side ofthe hub in a small tab member 56, coplanar with and preferably anintegral part of pawl clamping arm 51.

A stop flange 60 extends laterally outwardly, preferably as an integralextension, from the portions of side walls 13, 14 which adjoin the endwall recessed areas 11a, 12a, respectively. Advantageously, as depictedin FIGS. 2 and 3, flange 60 extends laterally outwardly a distance equalto the recess of the end wall sections 11a, 12a, so as to terminate inthe plane of the outermost end wall sections 11b, 12b, respectively.Flange 60 extends in the longitudinal direction from the front edge 15of the box walls preferably to the approximate mid-point between thefrontal plane and back wall of the box.

A rib 62 extends in parallel, spaced apart relation to flange 60 andpreferably has a concave arcuate side 63 facing flange 60. Rib 62 isspaced from flange 60 a distance sufficient to form a groove-like guidechannel adjacent flange 60 adapted to slidably receive and guide hub 52of the pawl arm 51 in back and forth linear travel.

Rib 62 extends along at least the length of flange 60, and preferablyextends a short distance beyond the end 60a of flange 60 in order toease assembly of pawl 51 onto box 1, more fully described hereinafter.Rib 62 extends laterally outwardly from end wall 12a a distanceapproximately equal to the width of the pawl clamping flange 55 so thatthe pawl arm is located fully within the confines of the recessed area12a in its retracted position.

As best seen in FIG. 4, arcuate face 63 of rib 62 holds hub 52 away fromthe outer surface of end wall 12a a distance at least equal to thedistance that tab 56 extends beyond the periphery of the hub, so as tocreate an additional slot-like channel 65 adjacent flange 60 adapted tofreely receive tab 56 of pawl 51 therein and permit tab 56 to freelyride in channel 65 in back and forth linear travel.

Finally, a boss member 67 is formed integral with the end wall section12a adjacent the front edge 15 of the box wall structure and is providedwith an aperture 68 therein aligned with the channel between flange 60and rib 62, aperture 68 being adapted to receive threaded mounting screw53 therethrough.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the pawl mounting means isassembled by partially threading mounting screw 53 into the hub 52 ofthe pawl arm 51 by means of a screwdriver 70 or the like so as to draw aportion of the hub 52 into the grooved guide channel between flange 60and rib 62, as shown in FIG. 2. At this time, pawl arm 51 is in aretracted or "nested" position, where it rests on the top edge of rib 62and clamping flange 55 rests against the outer surface of end wall 12a,the entire device being positioned within the confines of the recessedarea between flange 60 and end wall 12b.

Thereafter, continued rotation of mounting screw 53 in a clockwisedirection when viewed from the handle end of screwdriver 70, illustratedby arrow A in FIG. 3, rotates the pawl arm 51 from the retractedposition into an extended position where it engages stop flange 60 whichprevents further rotation of the arm in the clockwise direction.Thereafter, continued clockwise rotation of the threaded mounting screw53 causes the pawl hub 52 to travel linearly, illustrated by arrow B inFIG. 3, within the groove-like guide channel between flange 60 and rib62 toward clamping engagement with wall 3, at which time the pawlclamping flange 55 engages the back side of wall 3. As the pawl hub 52travels linearly toward clamping engagement with wall 3, the pawl tab 56rides freely within channel 65 adjacent the flange wall 60, while thepawl arm 51 engages and is urged into sliding relationship against theouter portion of flange wall 60. Upon rotation of screw 53 in anopposite counterclockwise direction, pawl tab 56 engages and is urgedinto sliding relationship against the bottom portion of flange wall 60,restraining rotation of pawl arm 51 so as to cause the pawl hub 52 andclamping flange 55 to again travel linearly in the opposite direction ofarrow B, out of clamping engagement with wall 3 and toward the retractedposition. As pawl hub 52 travels beyond the end 60a of the flange wall60, tab 56 no longer restrains rotation of the pawl arm 51, whereuponthe pawl once again rotates into its original retracted or "nested"position.

Thus, flange wall 60 serves as a single pawl stop to prevent rotation ofthe pawl arm 51 during both clockwise and counterclockwise movement ofthe mounting screw 53 as the pawl moves linearly in its extendedposition into and out of clamping engagement with wall 3.

While the foregoing description of the pawl mounting means has beenprimarily directed to the structure provided at the recessed wall area12a, depicted in the drawings, it will be understood that an identicalstructure is also provided at the recessed wall area 11a.

While it will be understood from the foregoing description that neitherthe outlet box of the invention nor the pawl mounting means are in anyway limited to the use of particular materials, the outlet box ispreferably formed integrally from a molded thermoplastic resin materialand the pawl arm member is preferably formed by die stamping a suitablemetal.

With respect to the material from which the outlet box is formed, acertain injection moldable thermoplastic resin material has been foundto produce highly satisfactory results and is given as an example of thepreferred mode of carrying out the invention, together with otherexamples of suitable materials, from which still further equivalentmaterials will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus,it has been found that a thermoplastic resin blend of ABS (i.e.,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and PPO (i.e., polyphenylene oxide)sold by the General Electric Company under the trade name "NORYL",Grades SE-100 or SE-1, is a particularly preferred material from thestandpoint of ease of moldability, strength and high temperatureresistance. Moreover, the "NORYL" material is sufficiently strong tomeet the current standard of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. for outletbox cable clamping devices. It has also been found that a vinyl resinmaterial such as PVC (i.e., polyvinyl choride) sold by the EthylCorporation under the trade designation "Ethyl 7042" operatessatisfactorily where only slight clamping action against the cable isdesired or necessary, as in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 6. However, this material does not meet the aforementioned currentUnderwriters' Laboratories' standards for cable clamps in outlet boxes.In addition to the foregoing, the outlet box of the present inventionmay be formed integrally from a metallic material, for example, by castmolding from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or by die stamping theappropriate recessed wall portions and closure panel members from asuitable metal, such, as, e.g., steel, the latter being thereafter bentinwardly to provide the cable entry port structure.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificembodiments herein shown and described but departures may be madetherefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departingfrom the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:
 1. In an electrical outlet box having a wallstructure providing front to rear wall means and a bottom wallinterconnected therebetween, the front to rear wall means and bottomwall defining a chamber within the wall structure which opens throughthe front of the box, said wall means defining an outermost periphery ofsaid box and including wall portions which are recessed inwardly fromsaid periphery so as to define recessed areas extending along saidperiphery of said box, from the front to the rear of said box, saidrecessed areas housing cable entry port means for the passage ofelectrical power cable into said box chamber, said cable entry portmeans includes a generally rectangular aperture in said front to rearinwardly recessed wall portion extending upwardly from said bottom wall,a generally V-shaped opening in said bottom wall converging inwardlyfrom the longitudinally extending side rims of said aperture and openingin a direction generally perpendicular to said front of said box, andclosure panel means depending from the longitudinally extending siderims of said aperture and terminating in free end portions, said freeend portions being separated by a distance which is less than thenarrowest dimension of the electrical power cable to be insertedtherein, said free end portions of said closure panel means adapted todeflect laterally away from one another upon passage of a cable intosaid aperture and to thereafter resistingly bear against the installedcable.
 2. An electrical outlet box as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidfront to rear wall means includes a pair of opposed side walls and apair of opposed end walls interconnected between said side walls.
 3. Anelectrical outlet box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said recessed areasare formed in said end walls.
 4. An electrical outlet box as claimed inclaim 2, including electrical fixture mounting post members adjacent theinside surface of each opposed end wall in opposed alignment generallycentrally of said end walls, and wherein each end wall is offset oneither side of said electrical fixture mounting post member.
 5. Anelectrical outlet box as claimed in claim 4, wherein said recessed areasin said end walls are in diagonally opposed alignment.
 6. An electricaloutlet box as claimed in claim 1, including a frangible closure webjoining said free end portions of said closure panel means,substantially preventing access into said box through said cable entryport means, said frangible closure web being readily pierceable bymanual force of the end of said electrical power cable thereagainst. 7.An electrical outlet box as claimed in claim 6, wherein said frangibleweb extends along the entire length of said free ends of said closurepanel means.
 8. An electrical outlet box as claimed in claim 1,including a third closure panel member extending inwardly from theinside surface of said front to rear inwardly recessed wall portiontransversely of and closely adjacent to the converging front edges ofsaid closure panel means, said third closure panel member therebysubstantially closing the generally V-shaped space formed between saidclosure panel means which opens in a direction perpendicular to thefront of the box.
 9. An electrical outlet box as claimed in claim 8,including a reinforcing strut extending between the top of said thirdclosure panel member and the inside surface of said front to rearinwardly recessed wall portion.
 10. An electrical outlet box as claimedin claim 1, wherein the bases of said closure panel means are recessedfrom said longitudinally extending side rims of said aperture.